Pick-up tool



July 13, 1965 sc -l, JR 3,194,597

PICK-UP TOOL Filed Aug. 1, 1962 INVENTOR.

from high places normally out of reach.

United States Patent 3,194,597 PICK-UP T091, George E. Lasch, lira, 31143 Hilliard Road, Westlalre, @hio Filed Aug. 1, 1%2, Ser. No. 214,049 4* Claims. ill. 29419) iy present invention generally relates to hand operated devices for retrieving articles out of normal reach,

and more particularly comprises a clamping tool consisting of an elongated handle having a clamping or gripping unit at one end and means for manipulating the same at the other end.

The tool of my invention is especially designed for the convenience of householders and others who may have occasion to retrieve articles from the floor or ground or My tool is particularly designed to enable the picking up of trash or other litter which is not capable of being handled by a clamping or gripping action. To this end, my tool comprises a clamping or gripping unit in which the movable clamping or gripping members constitute scoop-like container means in the nature of the clam shell bucket whereby even loose material may be scooped up and retained within the scoop-like clamping members.

An important object of the invention is to provide such a tool which is of novel design, very efficient for its purposes, and quite inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention, showing in full lines the normal open position of the clamping members and the normal position of the actuating member, and showing in dotted lines the closed position of the clamping members and the corresponding position of the actuating member.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view of the lower end of the device.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view and looking toward the 'inner face of one of the scoop-like clamping members,

taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

Now referring to the drawing and describing the invention in detail, the tool comprises an elongated tubular handle generally designated by the numeral 1 including an upper hand gripping portion 1a which, forconvenience of handling and manipulation, may be angularly disposed relative to the main shank portion 1b as shown. The elongated handle 1 is of hollow tubular formation, preferably so that the actuating member 2 may be accommodated therewithin.

At the lower end of the shank I]; there is provided a clamping container unit generally designated by the letter A comprising a pair of identical scoop-like clamping iembers 3 and iwhich are pivotally connected to the lower end of the shank 3th and mounted in opposed relation for movement toward and away from one another by means hereinafter described.

The members 3 and 4 may comprise identical metal stampings each consisting of a respective main body portion such'as indicated at 3a and 5a respectively, and respective scoop portions 3b and ib angularly disposed relative to the respective main body portions 3a and 4a. It may be noted that when the members 3 and 4'2 are assembled on the tool as shown, the main body portions 3a and 4a extend downwardly from the lower end of the shank 1b in diverging relation to one another and the scoop portions 3b and 4b are disposed in converging relation to one another.

The marginal side edges of the members 3 and 4 are bent inwardly at right angles to the remainder of the "ice material to provide side flanges such as indicated at 3c and 40 whereby when the members 3 and 4 are in their closed position indicated by dotted lines in FIGURE 1 the said side flanges assist in providing a box-like enclosure comprising the members 3 and 4 in such position to contain material retrieved or scooped up by the use of the tool for conveying the same to a place of disposition.

Each of the metal stampings comprising the respective members 3 and 4 is formed with a respective outstrucl; ear port-ion such as indicated at 3d and 4d respectively, these ear members 3d and 4d being stuck out from the main body portions 35: and 401 respectively and. bent at right angles to the plane of said main body portions. The cars or lugs 3d and dd are formed with respective elongated slots 3e and 4e respectively which are arranged so that when the members 3 and 4 are in assembled relation on the tool said slots 3e and 4e converge toward one another at their lower ends and diverge from one another at their upper ends when the members 3 and 4 are in the open position shown by full lines in FIGURES 1 and 2.

The uppermost marginal edges of the members 3 and 4 are formed with integral centrally located extensions 3f and 4 respectively having integral ears or lugs 3g and 4g extending from opposite sides of the respective extensions 3 and 4] and bent at right angles thereto, the ears or lugs 3g and 4g being severed from the upper marginal edges of the members 3 and 4 in the stamping operation. The cars or lugs 3g and 4g are provided with apertures through which extends a pivot bolt 5 which also extends through the lower end of the shank 1b, the ears or lugs 3g and 4g being arranged in overlying relation when the members 3 and 4 are assembled so that the members 3 and 4 are thus pivotally connected to the lower end of the shank lb for pivotal movement toward and away from one another around the pivotal axis of the pivot bolt 5.

The upper marginal edges of the extensions 3 and 4 are inwardly arcuately curved as indicated at 4h to conform with the outer curvature of the shank lb.

The members 3 and 4 are normally maintained in their open positions as shown in full lines of FIGURES 1 and 2 by spring means such as the spring wire member 6 which is anchored on the pivot bolt 5 by looping said spring wire member around the same with the legs of the spring wire member extending from the loop portion hearing against the inner faces of the main body portions 3a and ia of the members 3 and 4.

The upper end of the actuator member 2, which may comprise a rod as shown, extends outwardly through a suitable opening in the hollow tubular shank 1b and is formed with a finger engaging loop 2a. The lower end of the actuator rod 2 is bent at an angle to the length thereof and the bent portion indicated by the numeral 2b 1 is arranged to extend through the slots 32 and 4e of the with suitable retaining means such as a speed nut or the like to retain this portion in proper position in the slots aforesaid, such retaining means being indicated at 7.

In operation, the tool of the invention will be grasped by the hand grip portion 1a with the index finger inserted through the finger engaging loop 2a of the actuator member 2 whereby upward movement of the actuator member 2 thus engaged will serve to draw the bent portion 2b upwardly in the slots 3e and 4e causing the members 3 and 4 to effect pivotal movement around the axis of the pivot 5 for movement of the lower edges of the said members 3 and 4 into engagement with one another as shown by dotted lines in FIGURE 2, whereby the device is capable of scooping up material lying on the ground so that such material so scooped up by the members 3 and 4 is contained within the box-like enclosure formed by said members when in their closed position shown by dotted lines in FIGURE 2. Release of upward pressure on the same will retain such material due to the box-like enclosure formed by the closed position of the members 3 and 4 during carrying of the device to a place of disposition of the material contained in the closed members 3 and 4.

It should be noted that the slots 32 and 4e converge toward one another at the point where the bent end 2b of the actuator rod extends through said slots and said slots diverge outwardly from that point in an upward direction.

I claim:

1. A tool of the class described comprising, in combination, an elongated handle having a hand gripping section at one end, a pair of opposed scoop members pivotally mounted about a common point to the other end of said handle for movement toward and away from one another to respective closed and open positions, said scoop members each comprising a respective main body portion and an integral scoop portion angularly disposed with respect to its main body portion, said scoop portions extending from their main body portions in converging relation to one another when the scoop members are in fully open position, said scoop portions having such angular relation to one another as to move into substantially linear alignment when they are in closed position with 7 their opposed extremities in abutting relation, whereby said scoop portions will pass under and scoop up loose material as said scoop portions move toward one another while engaging the surface on which said material is initially supported, spring means intermediate of the scoop members and engaging each of them normally urging said scoop members to open position away from one another, and actuating means for effecting movement of the scoop members toward one another to closed position against the action of said spring means, wherein the said scoop members are each provided with a single respective oifstanding lug member struck out of the body of its respective scoop member, each lug member provided with an elongated slot therein, said actuating means including an actuating member having a part extending through said slots in said lugs, said slots converging at the point where the actuating member extends therethrough and 7 said slots diverging outwardly therefrom in an upward direction whereby upward movement of the actuator member will serve to effect movement of the scoop members toward one another.

2. A tool of the class described comprising, in combination, an elongated handle having a hand gripping section at one end, a pair of opposed scoop members pivotally mounted about a common point to the other end of said handle for movement toward and away from one another to respective closedsand open positions, said scoop members each comprising a respective main body portion and an integral scoop portion angularly disposed .gular relation to one another as to move into substantially linear alignment when they are in closed position with their opposed extremities in abutting relation, whereby said scoop portions will pass under and scoop up loose material as said scoop portions move toward one another with respect to its main body portion, said scoop portion extremities in abutting relation, whereby said scoop porwhile engaging the surface on which said material is initially supported, spring means intermediate of and directly engaging each otthe scoop members normally urging said scoop members to open position away from one another and actuating means for efiFecting movement of the scoop members toward one another to closed position against the action of said springmeans, wherein said scoop members comprise identical die-stampings each consisting of sheet material having a substantially central lug struck outtherefrom and extending at a right angle to the main body of said sheet material,v each of said lugs having an elongated slot therein, said actuating means including an actuating member having a part extending through saidslot's in said lugs, said slots converging at the point where the actuating member extends therethrough and said slots diverging outwardly therefrom in an upward direction whereby upward movement of the actuator member will serve to effect movement of the scoop members toward one anothen'.

3. A tool of the class described comprising in combination, an elongated handle having a hand-gripping section at one end, a pair of scoop members'pivotally mounted about a common point at the opposite end of said handle for pivotal movement toward and away from one another to respective closed and open positions, whereby in such closed position the extremities of the scoop members are in abutting relation, and in open position the said extremities of the said members are separated from one another, said scoop members each comprising a respective main body portion and an integral scoopportion angularly disposed with respect to its main body portion, said scoop portions extending from their main body portions in converging relation to one another when the scoop members are in fully open position, said scoop portions having such angular relation to one an other as to move into substantially linear alignment when they are in closed position with their opposed extremities in abutting relation, whereby said scoop portions will pass under and scoop up loose material as said scoop portions move toward one another while engaging the surface on which such material is initially supported, spring means intermediate of and directly engaging each of the scoop members'normally urging said scoop members to open position away from one another, and actuating means operable from the hand-grip section of the tool to effect closing movement of said scoop members against the action of said spring means, wherein said scoop members are provided with respective offstanding substantially central lug members each provided with an elongated slot therein, said actuating means including an actuating member having a part extending, through said slots in said lugs, said slots converging atthe point where the actuating member extends therethrough and said slots diverging outwardly therefrom in an upward direction whereby upward movement of the actuator member will serve to effect movement of the scoop -members toward 'one another.

4. A tool of the class described comprising, in combination, a tubular handle having a hand gripping section 'at one end, a pair of opposed scoop members pivotally mounted about a common point to the other endrof said handle for movement toward and away from one another to respective closed and open positions, said scoop membe rs each comprising a respective main body portion and anintegral scoop portion angularly disposed with respect to its main body portion, said scoop portions extending from their'main body portions in converging relation to one another when the scoop membersare in fully open position, said scoop portions having suchtangular relation to one another as to move'into substantially linear alignment when they are in closed position with their opposed tions will pass under and scoop up loose material as said scoop portions move toward'one another while engaging the surface on which such material is initially supported, spring means normally urging said scoop members to open position away from one another, and actuating means for effecting movement of the scoop members toward one another to closed position against the action of said spring means, wherein the said scoop members are provided with respective oifstanding substantially central lug members each having an elongated slot therein, said actuating means including an actuating rod having an angularly disposed end portion extending through said slots in said lugs, said actuating rod extending upwardly therefrom within said tubular handle to a point adjacent the hand gripping section and thence extending outward- 1y therefrom and provided with a finger engaging portion on said actuator rod adjacent said hand gripping section,

said slots converging at the point Where the actuator member extends therethrough and said slots diverging out- References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,191,858 2/40 Moore 294-19 2,712,467 7/55 Rice 29411i5 X 2,961,674 11/60 Hunt 294-106 FOREIGN PATENTS 25,177 11/13 Great Britain.

SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner.

15 ANDRES H. NIELSEN, WILLIAM B. LA BORDE,

Examiners. 

1. A TOOL OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AN ELONGATED HANDLE HAVING A HAND GRIPPING SECTION AT ONE END, A PAIR OF OPPOSED SCOOP MEMBERS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ABOUT A COMMON POINT TO THE OTHER END OF SAID HANDLE FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER TO RESPECTIVE CLOSED AND OPEN POSITIONS, SAID SCOOP MEMBERS EACH COMPRISING A RESPECTIVE MAIN BODY PORTION AND AN INTEGRAL SCOOP PORTION ANGULARLY DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO ITS MAIN BODY PORTION, SAID SCOOP PORTIONS EXTENDING FROM THEIR MAIN BODY PORTIONS IN CONVERGING RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER WHEN THE SCOOP MEMBERS ARE IN FULLY OPEN POSITION, SAID SCOOP PORTIONS HAVING SUCH ANGULAR RELATION TO ONE ANOTHER AS TO MOVE INTO SUBSTANTIALLY LINEAR ALIGNMENT WHEN THEY ARE IN CLOSED POSITION WITH THEIR OPPOSED EXTREMITIES IN ABUTTING RELATION, WHEREBY SAID SCOOP PORTIONS WILL PASS UNDER AND SCOOP UP LOOSE MATERIAL AS SAID SCOOP PORTIONS MOVE TOWARD ONE ANOTHER WHILE ENGAGING THE SURFACE ON WHICH SAID MATERIAL IS INITIALLY SUPPORTED, SPRING MEANS INTERMEDIATE OF THE SCOOP MEMBERS AND ENGAGING EACH OF THEM NORMALLY URGING SAID SCOOP MEMBERS TO OPEN POSITION AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER, AND ACTUATING MEANS FOR EFFECTING MOVEMENT OF THE SCOOP MEMBERS TOWARD ONE ANOTHER TO CLOSED POSITION AGAINST THE ACTION OF SAID SPRING MEANS, WHEREIN THE SAID SCOOP MEMBERS ARE EACH PROVIDED WITH A SINGLE RESPECTIVE OFFSTANDING LUG MEMBER STRUCK OUT OF THE BODY OF ITS RESPECTIVE SCOOP MEMBER, EACH LUG MEMBER PROVIDED WITH AN ELONGATED SLOT THEREIN, SAID ACTUATING MEANS INCLUDING AN ACTUATING MEMBER HAVING A PART EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SLOTS IN SAID LUGS, SAID SLOTS CONVERGING AT THE POINT WHERE THE ACTUATING MEMBER EXTENDS THERETHROUGH AND SAID SLOTS DIVERGING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM IN AN UPWARD DIRECTION WHEREBY UPWARD MOVEMENT OF THE ACTUATOR MEMBER WILL SERVE TO EFFECT MOVEMENT OF THE SCOOP MEMBERS TOWARD ONE ANOTHER. 